Baby carrier and interchangeable carrier cover

ABSTRACT

An interchangeable cover for a middle panel of a baby carrier.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional of and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/798,515, filed Mar. 15, 2013, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Baby carriers typically include first and second shoulder straps and a waist strap that are connected by a front panel in order to define a cavity or opening therein. The opening is closed at one end and is designed to receive an infant or child therein. The carrier allows a parent to wear the carrier such that the child is secured next to the parent's body. In this way, the parent is able to hold and bond with the child. The carrier also enables the parent to have both hands free to make everyday activities easier.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an improved baby carrier, and more specifically to an interchangeable cover for the baby carrier.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a baby including a front panel, a waist strap, and a cover. The front panel includes a middle portion, a first top arm extending from the middle portion, a second top arm extending from the middle portion, a first bottom arm extending from the middle portion, and a second bottom arm extending from the middle portion. The waist strap is coupled to the front panel and includes complementary connectors for securing around a user's waist. The cover is removably coupled to the middle portion and includes a first opening for the first top arm, a second opening for the second top arm, a third opening for the first bottom arm, and a fourth opening for the second bottom arm.

In other embodiment, the invention provides an interchangeable cover for a baby carrier. The cover comprises a first sheet of material; a second sheet of material; the first sheet of material connected to the second sheet of material at a top edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge to define four separate openings, wherein the four separate openings are configured to receive portions of a baby carrier to secure the cover to the baby carrier.

In another embodiment the invention provides a method of changing a cover on a baby carrier. The method comprises folding a first arm, a second arm, a third arm, and a fourth arm on the baby carrier toward a middle panel of the baby carrier, sliding the cover over the middle panel; and unfolding the four arms on the baby carrier away from the middle panel.

Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a front view of a baby carrier including an interchangeable cover according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the baby carrier of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the baby carrier illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3 and 3A are exploded views of the baby carrier illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cover of the baby carrier of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate how the cover is removed and replaced on the front panel of the baby carrier illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective views of an alternate construction for a baby carrier.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the baby carrier of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8A is a detailed view of a portion of the baby carrier illustrated in FIG. 8.

FIG. 9 is a front view of an alternate constructions of a baby carrier.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a baby carrier including a panel integrally coupled to a waist strap. The panel includes first and second lower arms and first and second upper arms extending from the panel. The baby carrier also includes first and second shoulder straps that are removably coupled to the upper and lower pairs of arms. The baby carrier further includes a cover that is removably positioned over the panel. The cover may be removed and replaced to ensure that the carrier remains in a good condition and for interchangeable fashion. The cover prevents the carrier, and specifically the front panel, from retaining stains from spills and bodily fluids.

FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a baby carrier 10 including a removable cover 14 according to one embodiment of the invention. The baby carrier 10 includes a front panel 22 defining a longitudinal axis A. The front panel 22 includes a middle portion 24. The front panel 22 also includes a first top arm 26 and a second top arm 30 positioned on opposite sides of the middle portion 24. The front panel 22 also includes a first bottom arm 34 and a second bottom arm 38 positioned on opposite sides of the middle portion 24. The first and second top arms 26, 30 and the first and second bottom arms 34, 38 are integrally formed with the middle portion 24 and extend outwardly therefrom in directions B, C, i.e., away from the longitudinal axis A. The middle portion 24 is also received within and secured to the removable cover 14. The baby carrier 10 also includes a waist strap 68 integrally formed at a distal end 72 of the front panel 22. The waist strap 68 includes a first connector 76 on a first side 80 that couples to a mating second connector 84 on a second, opposite side 88 (FIGS. 1A, 2, 3, and 3A). The waist strap 68 may include a pocket.

Further, with respect to FIGS. 3 and 4 in particular, the removable cover 14 includes a first end 150 that is opposite a second end 154 and a front side 158 that is opposite the back side 162. The front side 158 and the back side 162 are coupled to one another at the first end 150 of the cover 14 thereby defining a closed end of the cover 14. The front side 158 and the back side 162 are spaced apart from one another at the second end 154 thereby defining an open end of the cover 14. The cover 14 includes an opening 166 extending between the second end 154 and the first end 150 of the cover 14 and is configured to receive the middle portion 24. The removable cover 14 includes a securement portion 60 at the second end 154 thereof, which in the illustrated embodiment is a hook-and-loop configuration.

The front side 158 and the back side 162 are also coupled to one another at a first location and a second opposite location about midway between the first end 150 and the second end 154. The front side 158 and the back side 162 are stitched together at a periphery thereof to define first and second top openings 42, 46 and first and second bottom openings 52, 56. The first and the second top openings 42, 46 are configured to receive the first and second top arms 26, 30 therethrough. Similarly, the first and second bottom openings 52, 56 are configured to receive the first and second bottom arms 34, 38 therethrough.

When the cover 14 is coupled to the middle portion 24, the second end 154 of the cover 14 is secured to the distal end 72 of the front panel 22. The second end 154 slips over and receives the first end of the middle portion 24, and each of the first and the second top arms 26, 30 and the first and the second bottom arms 34, 38 are disposed between the front and the back sides 158, 162 of the cover 14 and extend outwardly from the cover 14 through the respective openings 42, 46, 52, 56. The securement portion 60 couples with a mating securement portion 66 on the front panel 22. The cover 14 may be secured to the front panel 22 in other suitable ways as well.

With reference to FIGS. 1-2, the baby carrier 10 includes first and second shoulder straps 112, 116, which are removably attached to the first and second top arms 26, 30 and the first and second bottom arms 34, 38. Each of the first and second shoulder straps 112, 116 includes a first connector 112 a, 116 a and a second connector 112 b, 116 b (FIG. 1A). The first connectors 112 a, 116 a are removably coupled to connectors 26 a, 30 a on the first and second top arms 26, 30. Similarly, the second connectors 112 b, 116 b are removably coupled to connectors 34 b, 38 b on the first and second bottom arms 34, 38. The first and second shoulder straps 112, 116 and the waist strap 68 are padded and adjustable, which helps the baby carrier 10 to be more comfortable during use. Additionally, the straps 112, 116 are all adjustable such that the baby carrier 10 can be adjusted to fit users of different sizes. For example, fastening straps 200 may be coupled to the first and the second top arms 26, 30 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 3). The straps may be removably coupled to fasteners 204 that are spaced apart from the fastening loops 200. The arms 26, 30 are bendable to couple the loops 200 to the fasteners 204 to shorten the length of the arms and therefore adjust the fit of the carrier 10. Other means of adjustment are also included, for example, by shortening the connectors of the arms 26, 30, 34, 38 and the shoulder straps 112, 116. In the illustrated embodiment, the first and the second shoulder straps 112, 116 are formed as a single piece (e.g., a harness) extending over a user's shoulders forming a back panel 118 (FIG. 2). In other embodiments, the shoulder straps may be formed as two pieces or have any other suitable configurations.

In the illustrated embodiment, a removable fabric member 92 (FIG. 3A) is coupled between the waist strap 68 and the first and second bottom arms 34, 38 and is removable therefrom. The illustrated removable member 92 includes first and second portions 96, 100, which include opposite mating securement surfaces 96 a, 96 b, 100 a, 100 b. The securement surfaces 96 a, 96 b, 100 a, 100 b are illustrated to be hook-and-loop or Velcro surfaces. The first and second portions 96, 100 are wrapped around the waist strap 68 and secured thereon by coupling the opposite, respective mating surfaces 96 a, 96 b, 100 a, 100 b. The illustrated removable member 92 also includes first and second loops 104, 108, which receive, respectively, a fastener 104 b, 108 a on the respective first and second bottom arms 34, 38. The removable member 92 may be secured to the front panel 22 of the carrier 10 by any suitable fastening means (i.e., snap-fit clips, buttons, Velcro, etc.). Additionally, it is contemplated that the member 92 may be integrally formed with the waist strap 68 and therefore, only removable from the first and second bottom arms.

The front panel 22, shoulder straps 112, 116, waist strap 68, and member 92 define a cavity or an opening 120 configured to receive an infant or child. The baby carrier 10 is worn such that the front panel 22 is situated on a front of the user's body. As such, the shoulder straps 112, 116 and the waist strap 68 extend from the front of the user's body to the back. The child is received within the opening 120 and between the panel 22 and the front of the user's body. The child faces toward or away from the user and sits on the member 92. His or her arms extend through openings 123, 125 created on opposites sides thereof formed between the respective first arms 26, 30 and second arms 34, 38. Similarly, his or her legs extend through openings 124, 128 created on opposite sides thereof formed between the waist member 68 and the respective first and second bottom arms 34, 38. In this position, the cover 14 that overlays the front panel 22 frequently becomes dirty while in use as a result of saliva and other fluids that may drip thereon. Therefore, the cover 14 is removable from the carrier 10 such that the carrier 10 is protected from stains and spills. Because the cover 14 is removable, it is washable so that the carrier 10 remains in a good, clean condition. The cover 14 is also interchangeable with other covers, which may have different and unique patterns.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate how the cover 14 is positioned on the panel 22. First, the shoulder straps 112, 116 are detached from the arms 26, 30, 34, 38 of the carrier 10 by releasing the mating connectors therebetween. The first and second arms 104, 108 of the member 92 may also be removed from the first and second bottom arms 34, 38. Then the top pair of arms 26, 30 and the bottom pair of arms 34, 38 are folded from an extended position (FIG. 5B) against a rear surface 132 of the panel 22 to create a compact state (FIG. 5A). The cover 14 then slides over the panel 22 and the arms 26, 30, 34, 38 while in the compact state until the securement portions 60, 66 on the distal ends 64, 72 of the panel 22 and the cover 14 are matingly coupled. Once the panel 22 is received within the cover 14, the top pair of arms 26, 30 and the bottom pairs of arms 34, 38 are unfolded back to the extended state. The connectors between the shoulder straps and the top and bottom arms are then re-coupled to prepare the carrier for use. In order to remove the cover 14, the above-described process is reversed.

FIGS. 6-9 illustrate other constructions of baby carriers for which the removable cover 14 may be used. While the constructions of these baby carriers are not identical to the structure shown and described in FIGS. 1-5, the removable cover 14 may be utilized in a similar manner with the baby carriers illustrated in FIGS. 6-9.

Thus, the invention provides, among other things, an interchangeable cover for a baby carrier that is removable and replaceable. The cover prevents the carrier from stains and spills and is washable to maintain the carrier in a good, clean condition. Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A baby carrier comprising: a front panel including a middle portion, a first top arm extending from the middle portion, a second top arm extending from the middle portion, a first bottom arm extending from the middle portion, and a second bottom arm extending from the middle portion; a waist strap coupled to the front panel and including complementary connectors for securing around a user's waist; and a cover removably coupled to the middle portion and including a first opening for the first top arm, a second opening for the second top arm, a third opening for the first bottom arm, and a fourth opening for the second bottom arm.
 2. The baby carrier of claim 1, further comprising a first shoulder strap and a second shoulder strap, and wherein the first shoulder strap is coupled to the first top arm and the first bottom arm and the second shoulder strap is coupled to the second top arm and the second bottom arm.
 3. The baby carrier of claim 1, wherein the cover includes a first end opposite a second end, a front side and a back side, the front side and the back side coupled at the first end such that the first end is closed and spaced apart at the second end such that the second end is open.
 4. The baby carrier of claim 3, wherein the middle portion includes a top, a bottom, a first side, and a second side, and when the cover is coupled to the middle portion, the open end of the cover is secured to the bottom of the middle portion, the closed end of the cover receives the top of the middle portion, and each of the first and the second top arms and the first and the second bottom arms are disposed between the front and the back sides of the cover.
 5. The baby carrier of claim 2, wherein each of the first and the second shoulder straps is removably coupled to the front panel at two points.
 6. The baby carrier of claim 1, further comprising a member removably coupled to the middle portion and to the waist strap.
 7. The baby carrier of claim 1, wherein the cover is interchangeable with another cover.
 8. The baby carrier of claim 2, wherein each of the waist strap, the first shoulder strap, and the second shoulder strap are adjustable.
 9. An interchangeable cover for a baby carrier, the cover comprising: a first sheet of material; a second sheet of material; the first sheet of material connected to the second sheet of material at a top edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge to define four separate openings, wherein the four separate openings are configured to receive portions of a baby carrier to secure the cover to the baby carrier.
 10. The interchangeable cover of claim 9, further comprising a connector on one of the first sheet of material and the second sheet of material to secure the cover to the baby carrier.
 11. The interchangeable cover of claim 1, wherein the first sheet of material is further connected to the second sheet of material at a bottom portion of the first side edge and a bottom portion of the second side edge.
 12. The interchangeable cover of claim 1, wherein a bottom edge of the first sheet of material and the second sheet of material remain unconnected.
 13. A method of changing a cover on a baby carrier, the method comprising: folding a first arm, a second arm, a third arm, and a fourth arm on the baby carrier toward a middle panel of the baby carrier; sliding the cover over the middle panel; and unfolding the four arms on the baby carrier away from the middle panel.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising coupling a first shoulder strap to the first arm and the second arm.
 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising coupling a second shoulder strap to the third arm and the fourth arm.
 16. The method of claim 13, further comprising coupling a bottom of the cover to the middle panel of the baby carrier to secure the cover on the middle panel. 